Saxophone high-note keys



Se t. 30, 1930. G. c. GREGG 1,777,200

SAXOPHONE HIGH NOTE KEYS Filed June 9, 1928 2 Shees-Sheet 1 U I'- I l 5 n A; J Z0 /7 6 z I 22 3 Z' Z z: J I :5

z I I Zf p 30, G. c. GREGG SAXOPHONE HIGH NOTE KEYS Filed June 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 \\\\\\u\\\\\\N\\\\-N\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ gmniob v l\-\\\\\\\\\\q\\\\ \\\\\\\N\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ G m C t Patented Sept. 30, 1930 UNITED STATES GILBERT o. GREGG, or sronm'raxn, IOWA SAXOPHONE HIGH-NOTE KEYS Application filed June 9,

This invention relates to an arrangement and means whereby the four high notes may be proficiently executed on a saxophone.

As is well known, even skilled saxophon- 5 ists have difliculty in fingering the said four high notes. According to the present invention, such difiiculty is removed and the keys controlling such notes are arranged so as to be operable by the left hand without being thrown out of position and thus in the natural way, the keys being arranged directly under the four fingers of the left hand.

Another object is to provide a construction wherein the D pad and the D sharp pad may be operated by a single key or selectively by individual keys as preferred.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a. consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a saxophone embodying my invention, the additional parts being omitted for the sake of clearness,

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4% of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the h line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 designates the usual tubular body of a saxophone having the usual D pad at D. the usual E pad at E, the usual F pad at F, and the usual D sharp pad at DX or E. Location of the aforesaid pads is as usual on the saxophone.

As is usual construction, pad E is connect-' ed by an arm 11 to a rod 12 which rocks on a longitudinal axis in bearings 13 and is adapted for operation at a key-14,'for engagement as usual by the side of the right hand.

According to my invention, the pad E is adapted to be lifted through the depression 1928. Serial No. 284,161.

bracket 17. A key 24 is detachable to liftthe pad Fand is pivoted on a bracket 25 suitably fastened to the body 10'and has at its forward end ailaterallyjextending lug 26 which underlaps lever 23. r The pad, has a lever- 27 extending therefrom whichis pivoted on the bracket 25 and has an operating key 28 depressible; in order to raise the pad DX, A lever 29 extends from the pad D, being pivoted to a bracket-30 suitably mounted on the body 10 and which is provided with a key 31 depressible to lift the pad D. It will be noted that the lever 29 is offset as at 32 and passes under the lever or arm 27. By reason of this construction, when the lever 27 is depressed it will also depress the lever 32. If preferred, however, the lever 32 may be individually operated from the key 31.

By reason of the arrangement'shown, the

keys 24, 15, 31' and 28 are arranged in a position for natural engagement by the first, second, third and little finger of the left and in a natural manner. This compact and efficient arrangement enables the musician to execute the four high notes with maximum skill and ease.

It will be realized that although only the pads of the four high notes are shown, the saxophoneis otherwise complete, the necessary parts being omitted in the drawings as forming no part of the present invention and the invention being more clearly illustrated and described because thereof.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

It will furthermore be understoodthat the arrangement of levers and keys hereinbefore referred to is applicable to saxo phones generally.

I claim as my invention 1. In a saxophone, an E pad, an F pad, a

lever for actuating said E pad, a lever secured to the F pad, said levers being pivoted on the same axis, a D sharp pad, lever means to operate the D sharp pad, means; pivotally mounting'the latter lever, a leverpivot-- ally mounted on the latter means underlapping the F pad lever, means-to;operate-the F pad from the same axis as the lever means for the D sharp pad, a lever to, operate the D pad, and keys for actuating the levers controlling the operation ofsa-id -pads being arranged for convenient engagement by the fingers of the left hand,

2. In combination with the D, F, D sharp.

and E pads of a saxophone, levers controlling the lifting of said pads, means mounting' the operating lever for, the E pad and the lever secured to the F pad for opera-t tion from a common axis, a key for the lever of the E pad, a lever for operatingthe D sharp pad, means pivotally monnting' the latter lever, a lever pivotally mounted on v the latter means under-lapping the I pad,

GILBERT: o. GREGG. 

